Kharkiv Housing Recovery: From Vision to Action
Kharkiv Housing Recovery:
From Vision to Action
First Annual Housing Conference
The First Annual Housing Conference (AHC 2026), taking place from 3 to 5 November 2026, will bring together stakeholders engaged in Ukraine's housing recovery and reconstruction.
Organized by the World Bank Group and the Ministry of Communities, Territories, and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine, the Conference will launch a dialogue among policymakers, financiers, implementers, technical experts, civil society, and the private sector.
Conference objectives
Foster strategic alignment between policy priorities, implementation approaches, and investment decisions.
Facilitate coordination among government, municipalities, development partners, international financial institutions, civil society, academia, and the private sector.
Generate new knowledge and encourage networking through the exchange of lessons learned, innovative practices, and international experience to support evidence-based decision-making.
Kharkiv Housing Recovery:
From Vision to Action
On 4 November 2026, the UN4UkrainianCities Initiative and Kharkiv City Council will organize a dedicated session as part of Track B, Session 05B.
The session will demonstrate how integrated project preparation and feasibility planning can translate Ukraine's national housing policy into concrete, implementation-ready local housing projects, while strengthening municipalities' capacity to deliver inclusive, sustainable, and scalable housing recovery solutions.
Through thematic presentations, interactive discussions, and networking opportunities, the session will bring together government representatives, donors, international financial institutions, the private sector, and civil society.
The exchange of Ukraine's operational experience and international good practices will help generate practical knowledge to inform future recovery policies, plans, and investments.
North Saltivka Housing Recovery Project
An integrated approach to resilient neighbourhood recovery in Kharkiv.
The North Saltivka recovery project, developed under the UN4UkrainianCities Initiative, will serve as a practical example of how comprehensive project preparation can connect national housing priorities with local implementation.
From housing to integrated neighbourhoods
The project's integrated residential development design combines housing, safety infrastructure, a pre-school education facility with its own protective shelter, and accessible public spaces.
By integrating essential services and infrastructure into a single development approach, the project illustrates how housing recovery can contribute to safer, more inclusive, and more resilient urban neighbourhoods.
Agenda and speakers
Introductions and session objectives
From Policy to Projects: UN4UkrainianCities Initiative's Approach to Housing Recovery
From Vision to Implementation: Partnerships and Financing for Housing Recovery in Ukraine
Q&A session
Questions and discussion with session participants.
Biographies
Meet the speakers participating in the Kharkiv Housing Recovery: From Vision to Action session.
Olga Demianenko
Olga Demianenko has been working with the UN4UkrainianCities Initiative at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) since 2023. In her current role, she contributes to the strategic coordination and implementation of initiatives supporting Ukraine's urban recovery and sustainable development, working closely with national and local authorities, international organizations, development partners, and other key stakeholders.
Her work focuses on strengthening international cooperation, facilitating partnerships, and advancing projects aimed at building more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable Ukrainian cities.
Prior to joining the Initiative, she held several leading positions within Kharkiv City Council since 2010, where she played a key role in advancing the city's international engagement, strengthening strategic partnerships with international financial institutions and development partners, and driving international cooperation in support of the city's long-term development priorities.
She holds a Master's degree in International Law and International Relations.
Thamara Fortes
Thamara Fortes is a Brazilian architect and urban planner with extensive international experience in urban development, post-conflict recovery, and programme management.
She has worked with the United Nations across different organizations and duty stations, including Afghanistan, Lebanon, Kenya, Zambia, Ecuador, Colombia, and Ukraine, supporting initiatives focused on sustainable development, infrastructure, capacity-building, and cooperation with national and local authorities.
Since 2023, she has served as Project Manager of the UN4UkrainianCities Initiative at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), overseeing project implementation, coordinating multidisciplinary teams and international partners, and supporting national and local authorities in Ukraine.
Her work focuses on housing policy, sustainable urban development, and the planning and design of cities' recovery projects.
Ihor Terekhov
Ihor Terekhov has served as Mayor of Kharkiv, Ukraine, since November 2021. He also serves as Head of the Association of Frontline Cities and Communities of Ukraine.
Mr. Terekhov holds an honors degree in Industrial and Civil Construction and a Master's degree in Public Administration, as well as a PhD in Public Administration.
He brings more than 39 years of professional experience, encompassing senior positions in both the private sector and public administration, including within Kharkiv City Council and the Kharkiv Regional State Administration.
Prior to his election as Mayor, he served as Deputy Mayor responsible for the city's development and essential services, First Deputy Mayor, and Secretary of Kharkiv City Council.
His contribution to public service has been recognized through a number of national and local honours, including the title of Honored Economist of Ukraine, the Order of Merit, III degree, and the Orders "For Courage," III and II degrees.
Peter Wagner
Dr. Peter M. Wagner is Head of the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) at the European Commission.
Prior to this, he was in charge of coordinating work on the fight against COVID-19 and Head of the Clearing House for Medical Equipment (COVID-19) in the Secretariat-General (SG) of the European Commission.
He was Head of the Support Group for Ukraine in DG Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) during the period 2015–2020.
Dr. Wagner's previous experience also includes the European Commission's Task Force on Greece (TFGR), as well as leading the unit responsible for defence, aeronautic, and maritime industries in DG Enterprise and Industry (now DG GROW).
Prior to joining the Commission in 1999, he was a researcher at the Center for Applied Policy Research (CAP) in Munich, Germany, following several years as a journalist and editor for a number of newspapers.
Dr. Wagner holds a PhD in Political Science, History, and Psychology from Freiburg University.
Holger Seifert
Holger Seifert is Senior Technical Advisor at the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), with deep expertise in social and affordable housing finance.
An economist with a PhD-level background, he brings extensive experience as Country Manager, where he led the structuring, negotiation, and execution of housing and other social economy loan programmes across several CEB member countries.
He has also served as Head of the Brussels office of a socially oriented bank.
Among his responsibilities, he oversees CEB housing loans in Ukraine, driving sustainable lending solutions for public housing.
Ihor Biletskyi
Ihor Biletskyi has served as Rector of O. M. Beketov National University of Urban Economy in Kharkiv, Ukraine, since 2025, one of the country's leading institutions in urban development, construction, municipal infrastructure, and related fields.
Professor Biletskyi has held senior academic and executive positions at the University, including First Vice-Rector, Acting Rector, and Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work, Economics, and Strategic Development.
His work focuses on institutional governance, strategic planning, digital transformation, quality assurance, and the modernisation of higher education in line with European standards and practices.
He holds a Doctor of Economic Sciences degree in Economics and Management of the National Economy, a PhD in Project and Programme Management, and a Master's degree in Power Engineering, Electrotechnics, and Electromechanics.
Professor Biletskyi is the author of numerous academic publications on strategic management, housing, construction, and digitalisation.
His professional contributions have been recognised through national and academic distinctions, including the title of Honored Scientist and Technician of Ukraine.